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"Wait, wait, that is not all. The bishops subordinate to Canterbury also sent a protest that they, who are most nearly concerned in the appointment, were not consulted, as is their right. That muddied the waters so thoroughly that the Pope has called all parties to Rome and has put off judgment until December. Now, Innocent III is no Celestine. He is a learned and scholarly man, but strong and ambitious" |
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"That sounds more dangerous to me" |
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An eager assent cut her off. "Oh yes, we are playing with fire, but Winchester saysand the bishops of Bath and London, too, and they are not John's creaturesall say that Innocent is intelligent as well as ambitious. He will try, of course, to tighten his grip upon the country, but in order to do so he must needs offer us an archbishop who is really acceptable to all and a worthy man." |
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Alinor shook her head. "He might be a saint and yet be worse than useless. If Innocent should appoint one of his Italians" Then she drew breath sharply. "Think, Ian, what would be if he should appoint a Frenchman." |
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"I said he was not an idiot. Do you think the Pope does not know how things are between the English and the French? An Italian would be unfortunate, but not a disaster. Certainly for our purposes he would be better than Gray. He would owe nothing to John and be more inclined to listen to the advice of the bishops. I do not think that will happen, and neither do Winchester, London, and Bath. I am not sure, but I think there have been letters offering a compromise. The bishops do not really have a right to participate in the election of Canterbury, but they have done so in the past and could continue to complain and appeal and hold up Peter's pence. Winchester hinted to me that the subordinate bishops implied they would make no protest over the Pope's decision to exclude them from the election if Stephen Langton were preferred." |
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